Sunday, 26 August 2012

Using the same field as game one, the deployment area
moved clockwise a quarter turn. Both Bavaria and Austria had terrain to anchor
a flank while the open side was covered by the knights of both sides. The
deployment of the infantry remained unchanged with the artillery taking a
flanking position to support their respective infantry line.

The Bavarian nobles deployed across the ploughland
risking an inconvenience; if the ground proved worse than expected, at least
mounted and foot would “move as a wall”.

This game, the Bavarians had opening move and the
ground proved good going (yodeling could be heard in the back ranks).

Photo two shows
the positions after bound the second bound. The Bavarian nobles attempt to turn
the Austrian left, while the infantry group would plod forward . The crossbow
and Handgunners moved out of the enclosure to extend the battle line.

The Austrians were able to push their infantry forward
leaving the artillery a clear shot at the hand gunners. The Austrian knights
closed to combat and for the most part were able topush the Bavarians back. In Photo Three, the Austrian gunners
congratulate themselves by sending the Handgunners home.

For the next three bounds, Fortuna smiled on the
Bavarians. The artillery managed to destroy an element of knights, crossbows
stopped dead the Coustilliers of Austria and the following bound Austrian
crossbowmen fell to a pike assault. 3-0 for Bavaria.

During this time, the pike blocks were evenly matched,
while the knights of both sides showed the latest dance steps; one forward, one
back.

With a six for pips, the Bavarians smelled victory and
moved as many units to join battle or seal of escape routes. An Austrian knight
sent back double their number of mounted troops, while after a valiant effort,
the Bavarian pike block fell bringing interim score 3-2. The last melee for the
bound found the Austrian artillery skewered by a sole Bavarian pike. End game 4-2.

Observations:

Both games were fought on the standard 60x60cm game board. With
the increased movement, the smaller playing surface did not seem to hamper play
at all. If anything, it prompted the use of reserves.

Artillery are present in most Late Medieval armies,
but as an option in place of an element of Ps. I am still debating over its
usefulness with respect to an element of “fast” troops. The Bavarians were
extremely lucky destroying an element of knights, but is it realistic to expect
that every game?

An infantry battle line with a mix of pike, blade and
crossbow is very effective at sealing off parts of the battlefield. A flank
comprising solely of knights will after two bounds open a lot of opportunity
for “reserve” units.

This game, the crossbows avoided the
misstep of the last game; by moving only 1BW to shoot that bound.

The coming week I shall dedicate to refurbishing hills
(gentle and steep) and woods, so further testing will be played with them. Austrians versus Swiss and Late Hungarians.

Saturday, 25 August 2012

The armies of Bavaria-Ingolstadt met the Imperial
forces near the hamlet of Birkendorf. The Imperial forces were hampered by the
enclosed fields and the hamlet, but deployed their pike and crossbow flanked by
knights. Further extending the flanks were feudal lords (Kn) and Coustilliers (Cv).

The Bavarians mirrored the Austrian deployment, but extended
their pike frontage backed by blades.

Photo one shows both sides deployed for battle. Displaying
no form of finesse, both lines moved as solid walls toward each other. The
crash of steel on steel and the cracking of pike on breastplate delivered up in
quick succession a knight and crossbow element. 2-0 for Bavaria.

At this moment, the flanking Austrian mounted forces moved
in, while the pike block engaged the Bavarian pike. The cavalry of both sides found
themselves engaged in isolated combat while the centers struggled on. During
this bound, the Austrians evened the score 2-2. The loss of a pike element
brought the Austrian pike block in contact with the supporting blade. As though
drawn by a magnet, the isolated engagements by the knights were moving closer
toward the infantry battle.

The decisive stroke taken by the Austrian was to
engage their general. Launching the Hang gunners in the direction of the
Bavarian artillery, both generals were now locked in battle. It seemed only a
matter of time before recoiling knights would be crushed with no more room to
maneuver. 3-2 for Austria.

It was now a soldier’s battle. Only the artillery
remained spectators while the mounted crossbow and Coustilliers were pulling
faces, everything else was locked in combat and all knightly combat recoiled
closer toward certain doom. The Bavarian blade held against the Austrian pike
giving time for support troops to encircle them. This was decisive as the loss
of the pike block ended the game, 4-3 for Bavaria.

Observations:

I enjoyed the subtle changes made. The differences
between Bad Going and Rough Going were nice, but will need practice in placing
them on the game board.

The BUA modifications are an improvement as I have now
an excuse to “pretty up” the terrain pieces.

The camps were improvised as the tentage was taken
from my SYW collection. Camp followers have been ordered and these will become
my next project when the Late Hungarians are done.

If the Bavarian deployment seemed cramped, this was
done in anticipation of the plough field being a problem. It was not.

In some cases the choice of recoil, base depth or 1 BW
was critical for the knights.

Friday, 24 August 2012

This month, the DBA Agora blog will make room for my
15th century campaign set in Southern German. During the past few
months, I have documented the growth of my Medieval German army collection while at
the Fanaticus Forum I have posted my thoughts about operating a campaign “similar”
to the Game of Thrones series. Here, rival houses position themselves in the
long struggle to become Emperor.

As with any campaign project, I found it advisable to
start small and focus on a singular event in German history. This was provided
by King Ludwig of Bavaria, who split the kingdom among his sons thus creating
the duchies of Bavaria-Munich, Bavaria-Ingolstadt, Bavaria-Straubing, and
Bavaria-Landshut. After a century of feuding, the kingdom of Bavaria was
finally restored to its former size as we know it today. The century of struggle all the elements for an ideal
game of thrones.

Campaign objectives

I selected the DBA campaign system for this as it is
well known here, but made modifications to time and map scale. Expanding the
seasons to reflect movement activity by month this would open the use of less played
scenarios. The call up of field armies for a number of months would heighten a
sense of urgency before the oncoming winter season. Not only the length of play has been extended, but each region now displays an increase in the number of movement nodes .

With the increase in scale, we can explore scenarios
that would reflect challenging day to day struggle in place of battles leading to
territorial conquest. Prestige Points would still reflect the measure of a
House’s success, but these can now be accumulated by activity from channels other than military.

Below, I have listed an index of topics to be
covered in future postings. The research presented a myriad of ideas
for scenarios which can be played out within the format of the campaign. Where applicable, modifications to the campaign will also be listed.

Timeline

The story begins during the Spring of 1400 AD in the
former Kingdom of Bavaria. For the sake of simplicity, the individual Houses
will use the region’s title House of Ingolstadt, Landshut, Straubing and
Munich. The countryside is showing renewed activity after a winter-sleep,
farmers prepare their fields for seeding, roads are clear so commerce may
course its way from city to city and plans within plans that were made during
the Winter season can now be launched.

Sunday, 19 August 2012

With the allies completed, I now have two DBA sized
armies to do and so I split the task into two sessions; one of infantry and the
last, all the cavalry.

As you may note from the list below, the infantry are
balanced between core troop types and skirmishers. With enough figures for all the
options, I started painting this morning. Photo one, shows the results before
lunch.

At lunch time, the weather became “tropical” that
further painting would have to wait until the evening.

Photo two shows the final results and the minis are
now ready for varnishing. These will dry overnight and tomorrow, if the weather
remains cool, I can clean and undercoat all the 36 cavalry; knights, lesser
nobles and skirmishers, mostly Cumans.

IV/43c Late Hungarian 1397-1526 AD:

1 x General (3Kn)

2 x Hungarian nobles (3Kn)

3 x Cumans, Jazyges, Ruthenians, Szekelers or Tartars
(LH)

1 x Crossbowmen(4Cb)

1 x Armati (Bd) or spearmen (Sp) or Ribauds (5Wb)

2 x Croatian, Transylvanian archers (2Ps) or (3Bw)

2 x German or Bohemian Handgunners (Ps) or War wagons
(WWg)

The Ribauds will be taken from the pool of peasants
which were completed last week. The only item lacking are the war wagons. These
are not a high priority, as the Hungarians will enter the campaign at a later
date and secondly, wagons will not take long to paint up.

Friday, 17 August 2012

The photo shows an interim stage of painting. I lack
the highlighting on all the figures as well as belting and harnesses for
mounted. My Hungarians are planned to
have three commands totaling 36 elements of which one command will represent
allies. According to the DBA army lists, these can also be Wallachian.

IV/65 Wallachian 1330 – 1504 AD:

1 x General (3Cv)

3 x Lesser Boyars (LH)

2 x Archers (3Bw)

5 x Crossbow, handgun (Ps)

1 x Rustici (5Wb)

I use Legio Heroica for both allies and the Hungarians
were taken from the Ottoman, Burgundian and Swiss listings. The appearance for
the allies will need some modification and this can be easily remedied with
Green Stuff. Fur caps and feathers should give them the necessary look,
however, I will not claim that these are 100% Wallachian. There were a myriad
of groupings living within the territories South of the Hungarian plains.

These have a rustic look using earth tones and some
blue. I will complete painting these tomorrow afternoon, but will make Green
Stuff additions when the Hungarians are finished. All the Hungarian foot have
been cleaned and undercoated.

My good DBA comrade Jiri from Switzerland has supplied
me with some excellent information covering the Hungarians of this century.
Thanks again.

Saturday, 11 August 2012

The peasants, for our campaign purpose, are deployed
for scenarios involving civil unrest among the Barons, raids and whatever else
I can think of. These were bought a month ago, with my last purchase of Legio
Heroica. Now that all six are complete, I wanted to add these to the army list.

Photo one, was taken yesterday. The figures lacked
detailing and highlight and on the whole I was pleased with the colour
combinations. I have done lots of peasants for 10th and 11 century
medieval armies and was for the most part clothed in unbleached linen or wool
of natural colour. 14th and 15th century illuminations show farmers
with a greater range of colour, perhaps artistic license, but we do see red, blue
and green dominate. Using these three colours, I worked with lighter shades to
increase variety among the horde.

The monks are Essex and will be based among the horde.
While researching the different orders, I decided to have some novices (grey)
and the rest as Benedictine monks (brown). I did work with shades to render an
impression of new and faded clothing.

Photo two, was taken prior to lunch. Figures are done
and will be varnished shortly. The two wagons from Essex. I will order more
equipment and wagons, but will place this on Museum Miniatures. They have female
peasants armed with improvised weapons and a good selection of barrels and
boxes. All together, these will look nice as camps for either army. Extra
peasants will be based as camp followers as per DBA.

Next week, the Agora blog shall have a face-lift. This
shall remain my central point for selling DBA and HOTT armies, but will also
host the new medieval campaign series – “Game of Thrones, German style.” (Working
title)

Starting another blog specifically for the campaign
did not appeal to me as I wanted to limit the number to this one and the 18th
Century Sojourn.